Should always be each case on its own merits and there are so many factors to consider. An example of something you might not initially pay a lot of attention to is what happened with Bateman, in that he went over as a single man and came back with an Australian partner. Easy to say in hindsight but you’re then almost dealing with an overseas player in risk terms because if a players partner gets homesick, you’re facing an issue. I look at Smithies and I’d never rule out a return for that lad but things can change between now and any potential return.

It’s like reading a comic. They put out a story out yesterday with a headline of something like ‘Saints sign world class back’ and then when you read it, they were basically just saying they have cap space and a quota spot and they might sign a back at some point if they find one.

I’m almost certain it’s Dan from the other forum that runs it.

yes it was!

Tommy

I'll give you that one, he is the only only one

He played loose forward quite a bit at Canberra.

If Sutton comes back motivated and in shape then he will be a very good signing for whiever gets him and I would have taken him over Thompson (due to bigger fitness worries with Luke) but I always thought it was disrespectful to Wigan and Superleague how he went over there and lost all his puppy fat, if he does the same in reverse he might not be so great a signing.
Looks like if he comes back it will be to Leeds I reckon but Saints you would think would be interested.

This.

More than any other player who went over, Sutton showed what he could have been giving Wigan, and wasn't.

he did that himself in the gym before he went, obviously different motivation

Tomkins came back and strengthened us, he was better than Escare, Same for Sarge and Budgie, they might not have been as good as when the went but came back and were better than was here

Don't feed the trolls mate.

What is this about?

You cannot be serious?

Something he clearly could have done when he was playing for us, but chose not to.

As a junior player, I wanted nothing more than to play for Wigan. It's difficult to imagine someone getting that gig and then not putting the work in.

None of those players came back better or stronger than before they left, some fans really do need to take their cherry and white glasses off

You aren't going to get me to bite.

Not trying to get anyone to bite, the fact is no player has come back to the club better than they where before they left

Got this from RedVee https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... ion-career

Got this from RedVee https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... ion-career

Tomkins, he was instrumental in our 2018 Grand Final win. Left us because we offered him a reduced contract then went on to have (in my opinion) the best years of his career in 2019-2021.

Bateman was massively underrated in his second spell with us imo. Maybe not as unconventional in his playstyle as before, but certainly effective and i would say we were strengthened by him being here.

I would even say Joe Burgess, again better in his first spell but he was a solid winger for us on his return, maybe a bit unlucky with injuries. Scored a hat-trick in our WCC win and very influential in that game in particular. Think it is fair to say he strengthened us and has gone on to play well for Salford.



Wrote my section and drafted it earlier, i would probably agree with Sarge strengthening us on his return aswell.

You can't just blanket statement that no players are to return who leave for the NRL, it should always be judged on a case-by-case basis on what value that returning player can bring to our current squad.

On Sutton, i don't think he would bring a lot of value so no i wouldn't want him back. Also he has had some injury troubles since signing for Canterbury so would also be a risk i don't feel we need to take. Similar to my thoughts on Thompson, but now knowing that Smithies was leaving i can understand that one more.

Quote ="[Gareth"Got this from RedVee https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... ion-career'" Put that one on the same shelf as Will Carling claiming Leeds offered him a £1,000,000 in the era when Ellery Hanley cost around £200,000. Looks good in your biography, especially when you know you were never really tested by playing the real code, and no doubt the Union hordes will lap it up for the same reason - but the rest of the world can take it with a pinch of salt.

Quote ="[Gareth"Got this from RedVee https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/jo ... ion-career'" Put that one on the same shelf as Will Carling claiming Leeds offered him a £1,000,000 in the era when Ellery Hanley cost around £200,000. Looks good in your biography, especially when you know you were never really tested by playing the real code, and no doubt the Union hordes will lap it up for the same reason - but the rest of the world can take it with a pinch of salt.

Why would he need to lie about it? He is the most recognisable rugby player of modern times. Telling a lie about a provincial sport that no one really cares about isn’t going to generate extra book sales

It won't help him sell books, but that doesn't mean it isn't a fantasy.

The rumours about Owen Farrell have been circling for years. It was similar when Saints were chasing David Campesi. You don't seriously think there'd have been no rumours if Johnny Wilkinson had been on the verge of coming over?

Disrespectful might not be the best choice of words but between leaving us and going to Canberra he had obviously been training his off/dieting better and got himself in a condition he was never in at Wigan which transferred on to the pitch too.

I still can't fathom why certain Sutton loyalists don't understand this.

The evidence was there, right in front of our eyes.

Loyalists? Evidence ? What are you going on about?

The only FACT is that he played almost 120 games for the club & won two GF's - you don't do that if you aren't A - a good player, B - performing and C - in the right physical condition.

You make out like he was some waste of space, fat slob at Wigan. Sadly it's like a switch with some fans. When a player leaves he's instantly either overrated, or is a bad egg etc.

There's life outside of Wigan RL and the NRL is a bigger draw. Not sure why some fans don't understand this?